LG VL600 LTE USB Modem (Verizon Wireless) review:

LG VL600 LTE USB Modem (Verizon Wireless)

The VL600 modem works only with Windows computers and supports Windows XP or later. Setting it up is easy. First you need to install the included software from the CD, which will also install the modem driver. After that, you insert the modem into the computer's USB port. Each time you plug it in, it takes about 30 seconds to be ready. Now just run Verizon's VZAccess Manager software, click "Connect," and you'll be connected to the Internet.

The software also enables sending and receiving text messages. We found that it was actually nicer to do text messaging this way, as you can use the computer's keyboard. You can also use the VZAccess Manager software to locate Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots; this is included in the data plan for free and is not counted toward the data caps.

Performance
The VL600 USB Modem blew us away with its performance. We tested the device in our office, which is notorious for bad cell reception, but the device consistently registered the download speed of 12Mbps. At this speed, you could download a DVD-quality movie of 800MB in about 8 minutes. In upload speed tests, the device also registered somewhere around 3Mbps.

To put this in perspective, 3G cellular hot spots we've seen offer around 1,000Kbps for download and 500Kbps for upload, about 10 times slower than what the VL600 has to offer. Also, most broadband connections, such as AT&T's DSL or Comcast cable, are slower or on par with the VL600's speeds.

Note, however, that you probably don't want to use the modem to download lots of data; when the cap (5GB or 10GB, depending on the plan) is reached, you'll have to pay another $10 for each additional gigabyte. As the data plans are rather expensive, the VZAccess Manager software prompts you about the amount of data usage each time you use it to connect to the Internet. You can also manually view this information by click on the "Usage" button.

Service and support
Verizon backs the VL600 USB Modem with a one-year warranty for the hardware and the same support that Verizon offers for cell phones. The company offers 24-7 technical phone support, and at its Web site you will find a section dedicated to the VL600 to help you get started and to troubleshoot problems.

CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
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